PAUL NICHOLLS has reported Kauto Star to be in tremendous shape ahead of his bid for a third Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup success next month.

The only horse to regain the crown after adding success in 2009 to his first two years earlier, Clive Smith's gelding has been in irresistible form this term, defeating 2011 hero Long Run in both the Betfair Chase and King George VI Chase.

King Kauto has been unaffected by the recent coughing outbreak among some horses at trainer Nicholls' stables and delighted connections in his latest workout.

Nicholls said: "He's in good form. Clifford Baker worked him on Saturday morning and we've got three weeks to get him in tip-top form."

Kauto's half-brother Kauto Stone, meanwhile, could be set for a shock tilt at the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Nicholls added: "He's in the Ryanair and the Champion Chase and we've got to make a decision. If he ran in the Ryanair the way he did at Ascot last time out, he won't get home, so we might look at the Champion Chase."

Former JCB Triumph Hurdle favourite Minsk will miss Cheltenham after he was found to have an infection when beaten on his jumping debut at Fairyhouse on Saturday.

As a result, trainer Dessie Hughes and owner Barry Connell have opted to pull the plug on Minsk's hurdling programme for this season.

The four-year-old will probably not run again until towards the end of the Flat season, when he will return to the John Oxx stable, for whom he won the Irish Cesarewitch in impressive fashion last autumn.

Hughes said: "He was a bit disappointing so we had him scoped when we got home and found he has an inflamed throat. It's the start of an infection.

"His lungs were clean but he's starting to get a cold and the vet said there's no way he could finish the race with that.

"He can't go to Cheltenham now as there is no way he can get to the Triumph Hurdle."